Stanton was drafted in 2007, the fifth of 10 quarterbacks selected that year. He’s the only one still playing. The second longest-tenured quarterbacks from that class (Kevin Kolb and Trent Edwards) have been out of the league since 2012.

Stanton’s thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in his career (24 compared with 20). He’s completed 52 percent of his career passes. He’s won more games than he’s lost, sure. And he says that’s why he’s been able to hang around so long.

But that’s not why the Browns brought him aboard. They signed him to mentor whichever incoming rookie quarterback they decided to draft. Stanton has played with two other rookie quarterbacks selected first overall in Andrew Luck and Matthew Stafford. Baker Mayfield became the third. Stanton didn’t play in the preseason game Thursday night. He’s a great emergency third-stringer, but he has no illusions. He knows why...